Pa. oil & gas industry to do radiation study

Monday

Nov 4, 2013 at 5:26 PM

The Associated Press

PITTSBURGH | Two oil and natural gas industry groups in Pennsylvania plan to study radioactive material in drilling-related activities.The Marcellus Shale Coalition and the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association say in a Monday release that they're encouraging their members to participate in the study.Oil and gas drilling waste can contain naturally occurring radioactive material, which can also contaminate equipment over time or be concentrated during treatment and disposal. MSC President David Spigelmyer says the study will help the industry more fully understand and address the issue, to protect workers and surrounding communities.The state Department of Environmental Protection is already conducting a similar study.The gas-rich Marcellus Shale lies underneath large parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, New York and other eastern states.